Spiritual Health For Older Adults Purpose: to explain what role spiritual health plays in lives of older adults, how regular practices like meditation, prayer, and other affect the health of older adults and what is the role of physical therapists in this matter.
Learning objectives: 1 Learn what spiritual health and regular spiritual practices mean in regard to older adults 2 Explore how regular spiritual practices affect the health of older adults 3 Become aware of current spirituality in North Carolina 4 Learn what role do physical therapists play in spiritual health of older adults 5 Discover variety of spiritual practices that physical therapists could recommend to older adults for health benefits
Meaning of Spirituality Spirituality may mean different things for different people. For some, it’s organized religion, like going to church, mosque, synagogue, etc. while for others, it may be a simple walk in nature. Other common spiritual practices ion the United States include private prayer, meditation, yoga, and quiet reflection. Some people may even find it through music and art. Research shows that even the skeptics don’t completely deny that there is something greater than the material world we see. Interestingly, as the brain processes sensory information through experiences, we tend to look for patterns and seek out meaning in those patterns. Spiritual beliefs and values may provide that meaning to an older adult and enhance not only their quality of life, but also bring about positive measurable health benefits.
Benefits of Regular Spiritual Practices Several current studies show multiple health benefits of regular spiritual practices on health and quality of life of older adults. These include, but are not limited to: • decrease in systolic blood pressure and improved perceived quality of life with three month of regular mediation practice • improved memory, increase in mindfulness and decline in worry severity with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program for older adults • increased social support and improved ability to cope with presence of multiple co-morbidities with regular religious service attendance • decreased depressive symptoms, improved physical health, better cognitive function, greater cooperativeness, and greater social support in medically ill hospitalized older patients with regular religious and spiritual practices in their lives • improved sleep quality in older adults with mindfulness awareness practices as compared to sleep hygiene education; added benefits of decreased depression, anxiety, fatigue levels, stress levels, and inflammatory signaling
Current Spirituality in North Carolina According to Pew Research Center, 2014 statistics indicate that 77% of North Carolinians are Christians, 3% are non-Christians (Jewish, Hindu, Muslims, Buddhists, and other religions), and 20% are unaffiliated. Furthermore, 73% of adults in North Carolina believe in God, 62% consider religion very important and 22% somewhat important, 66% of adults pray daily and 14% more weekly, and finally 45% of adults meditate at least weekly. From these statistics, we can incur that spirituality and religion play a major role in adults of North Carolina. Unfortunately, study by Hodge et al. states that 72% of patients report that their spiritual needs were minimally or not at all met by the medical system.
Role of Physical Therapists in Education on Spirituality and Health Benefits Physical therapists have one of the rarest opportunities in health care today to spend 30 to 90 minutes with their patients at a time and seeing them regularly. We should not miss this opportunity in providing education and referring our patients to spiritual counselors when indicated. As noted above, spiritual health is not less important than physical well-being. In fact, they are connected and a positive change in one brings a positive change in another. There are multiple ways to educate our patients, however not every physical therapist will feel comfortable speaking on this matter. At the very least, providing resources for our older patients on incorporating regular spiritual practice to help improve their health, quality of life, and make our medical system better by addressing the current need of spirituality in older adults.
Purpose: to explain what role spiritual health plays in lives of older adults, how regular practices like meditation, prayer, and other affect the health of older adults and what is the role of physical therapists in this matter.
Learning objectives:
1 Learn what spiritual health and regular spiritual practices mean in regard to older adults
2 Explore how regular spiritual practices affect the health of older adults
3 Become aware of current spirituality in North Carolina
4 Learn what role do physical therapists play in spiritual health of older adults
5 Discover variety of spiritual practices that physical therapists could recommend to older adults for health benefits
Meaning of Spirituality
Spirituality may mean different things for different people. For some, it’s organized religion, like going to church, mosque, synagogue, etc. while for others, it may be a simple walk in nature. Other common spiritual practices ion the United States include private prayer, meditation, yoga, and quiet reflection. Some people may even find it through music and art. Research shows that even the skeptics don’t completely deny that there is something greater than the material world we see. Interestingly, as the brain processes sensory information through experiences, we tend to look for patterns and seek out meaning in those patterns. Spiritual beliefs and values may provide that meaning to an older adult and enhance not only their quality of life, but also bring about positive measurable health benefits.
Benefits of Regular Spiritual Practices
Several current studies show multiple health benefits of regular spiritual practices on health and quality of life of older adults. These include, but are not limited to:
• decrease in systolic blood pressure and improved perceived quality of life with three month of regular mediation practice
• improved memory, increase in mindfulness and decline in worry severity with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program for older adults
• increased social support and improved ability to cope with presence of multiple co-morbidities with regular religious service attendance
• decreased depressive symptoms, improved physical health, better cognitive function, greater cooperativeness, and greater social support in medically ill hospitalized older patients with regular religious and spiritual practices in their lives
• improved sleep quality in older adults with mindfulness awareness practices as compared to sleep hygiene education; added benefits of decreased depression, anxiety, fatigue levels, stress levels, and inflammatory signaling
Current Spirituality in North Carolina
According to Pew Research Center, 2014 statistics indicate that 77% of North Carolinians are Christians, 3% are non-Christians (Jewish, Hindu, Muslims, Buddhists, and other religions), and 20% are unaffiliated. Furthermore, 73% of adults in North Carolina believe in God, 62% consider religion very important and 22% somewhat important, 66% of adults pray daily and 14% more weekly, and finally 45% of adults meditate at least weekly. From these statistics, we can incur that spirituality and religion play a major role in adults of North Carolina. Unfortunately, study by Hodge et al. states that 72% of patients report that their spiritual needs were minimally or not at all met by the medical system.
Role of Physical Therapists in Education on Spirituality and Health Benefits
Physical therapists have one of the rarest opportunities in health care today to spend 30 to 90 minutes with their patients at a time and seeing them regularly. We should not miss this opportunity in providing education and referring our patients to spiritual counselors when indicated. As noted above, spiritual health is not less important than physical well-being. In fact, they are connected and a positive change in one brings a positive change in another. There are multiple ways to educate our patients, however not every physical therapist will feel comfortable speaking on this matter. At the very least, providing resources for our older patients on incorporating regular spiritual practice to help improve their health, quality of life, and make our medical system better by addressing the current need of spirituality in older adults.
Resources for Patients:
http://eocinstitute.org/meditation/how-meditation-helps-with-senior-health/
https://seniorplanet.org/meditate-for-the-health-of-it/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl2fgE8A0N8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e0L-VKvMUU
http://keepingconnectedcanada.ca/mindfulness-and-meditation-for-seniors/
http://www.dorotusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=seniors_programs_spiritual_connex_D#.WWIicHfMxp8
https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_results.php?city=Winston+Salem&state=NC&spec=18
References:
• Black D, O'Reilly G, Olmstead R, Breen E, Irwin M. Mindfulness meditation and improvement in sleep quality and daytime impairment among older adults with sleep disturbances: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine [serial online]. April 2015;175(4):494-501.
• https://familydoctor.org/spirituality-and-health/
• Fátima Rosas Marchiori M, Kozasa E, Miranda R, Monezi Andrade A, Perrotti T, Leite J. Decrease in blood pressure and improved psychological aspects through meditation training in hypertensive older adults: A randomized control study. Geriatrics & Gerontology International [serial online]. October 2015;15(10):1158-1164.
• Hodge D, Horvath V, Larkin H, Curl A. Older Adults’ Spiritual Needs in Health Care Settings: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis. Research On Aging [serial online]. March 2012;34(2):131-155.
• Koenig H, George L, Titus P. Religion, spirituality, and health in medically ill hospitalized older patients. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society [serial online]. April 2004;52(4):554-562.
• Lenze E, Hickman S, Wetherell J, et al. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for older adults with worry symptoms and co-occurring cognitive dysfunction. International Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry [serial online]. October 2014;29(10):991-1000.
• Moxey A, McEvoy M, Bowe S, Attia J. Spirituality, religion, social support and health among older Australian adults. Australasian Journal On Ageing [serial online]. June 2011;30(2):82-88.
• http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/north-carolina/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/spirituality